German Chancellor to Visit Israel

The Chancellor of Germany, Gerhard Schroder, will arrive in Israel for a one-day working visit on October 31, accompanied by his wife. Chancellor Schroder’s visit will take place within the framework of a tour of a number of countries in the Middle East.

Israel attaches great significance to the visit of the Chancellor at the present time, viewing it as an expression of the deep friendship between the two countries. Germany, an important state in Europe, supports the Middle East peace process and contributes significantly to joint projects and to regional cooperation.

In the course of the visit, Chancellor Schroder will meet with the President of Israel and with the Speaker of the Knesset. In addition, he will hold a working meeting with Prime Minister Barak. During the meeting, they will discuss the recent events in the region and the relations between the two countries.

Israel will ask the Government of Germany, on the basis of its ongoing support for the peace process, to take action to help end the Palestinian violence, and to encourage its partners in the European Union to adopt a balanced and impartial policy towards the political negotiations between Israel and its neighbors.

The Chancellor will be accompanied by a delegation of representatives from the Bundestag and a large number of journalists. The Chancellor and his entourage will visit Yad Vashem, as well as visiting the grave of the late Yitzhak Rabin.